Aerated storage structure for granular materials



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 0 l//V/l/V/V Nov. 25, 1958 AERATED STORAGE STRUCTURE FOR GRANULAR MATERIALS Filed May 21, 1954 Nov. 25, 1958 L. LITTMANN AERATED'STORAGE STRUCTURE FOR GRANULAR MATERIALS Filed May 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m :uhu

I INVENTOR. 0 /f/V gala/z Nov. 25, 1958 L. Ln'TMANN 2,851,511

l AERATED sToRAGE STRUCTURE RoR GRANULAR MATERIALS Filed may 21, 1954 s sheets-sheet s T-'E EI INVENTOR. y

ATT'OR/VEYS AERATED STORAGE STRUCTURE FOR GRANULAR MATERIALS Leo Littmann, Unterhaching near Munchen, Germany Application May 21, 1954, Serial No. 431,565 Claims priority, application Germany May 27, 1953 6 Claims. (Cl. 98-55) The present invention relates to a structure for storing granular materials such as grain and which serves at the same time as a device for treating these materials with a gaseous medium during storage according to requirements.

Generally, the invention relates to an aerated storage structure which comprises a group of mutually spaced vertical pillar members. Wall members extend between adjacent ones of the pillar members defining a laterally enclosed storage space which is polygonal in plan view and which extends upwardly within the wall members. At least one third of the total number of the wall members are gas permeable and each of these comprises a series of uniformly vertically spaced parallel horizontally extending bar-like louver members each of which has its opposite ends effectively connected to and supported by adjacent ones of the pillar members. The transverse cross-sectional configuration of the bar-like louver members is such as to retain the granular goods conlined within the storage space notwithstanding the vertical spacing between adjacent louver members. This vertical spacing issuiiicient to provide free circulatory access to the stored goods by a suitable gaseous treatment medium such as air, for example, supplied at an appropriate pressure.

The louver members of each wall member extend between two spaced vertically extending columns to which columns the ends of the louver members are connected. Each louver member, as viewed in transverse section, comprises a vertical leg portion and a sloping leg portion. The sloping leg portions of the series of louver members are parallel to each other and each sloping leg portion slopes downwardly from one end of one of the vertical leg portions, the free end of the sloping leg portion being in direct contact with the stored goods if the volume of goods reaches'sufciently high. The vvertical leg portions of all of the louver members are aligned in a common vertical plane. The spacing between adjacent ones of the vertical leg portions is less than the spacing between adjacent free ends of the sloping leg portions. In this manner, the gaseous medium is caused to expand in passing through the gas permeable wall duringits flow from the duct into the storage chamber.

' In certain embodiments the sloping leg portions slope downwardly from the top of the vertical leg portions. In other embodiments they slope downwardly from the lower ends of the Vertical leg portions. Y

All of the wall members may be gas permeable, if desired. In certain embodiments of the invention, some of the wallmembers are solid, being constructed to withstand the outward lateral pressure created by the weight of the stored goods. Where solid wall'rnembers are used, at least one-third of the total number of wall members are of gas permeable construction and there are provided Vat least two gas permeable wall members which are angularly disposed with respect to each other so as to produce a plurality of convergent streams of air or other gaseous medium, these streams being directed nited States Patent 21,861,511 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 ICC to withstand the pressure of the gaseous medium. The air or other gaseous medium may conveniently be supplied under pressure by a power-operated blower, for example.

As stated above, each gas permeable wall member is formed of a series of horizontally extending bar-like louver members the ends of which are connected to vertical supporting columns. These louver members are uniformly vertically spaced. A feature of the invention resides in the fact that the transverse or vertical cross-sectional contiguration of each horizontal louver member is shaped to provide a vertically directed leg portion which is adjacent to the air shaft or ventilation duct and another leg portion which slopes downwardly from the vertical leg toward the storage chamber, the two leg portions meeting at an angle.

The vertical leg portions deiine comparatively narrow horizontal air passage slits communicating with the ventilation duct whereas the downwardly sloping leg portions define a series relatively Wide-mouthed horizontal spaces in direct contact with the granular goods in the storage chamber. As a direct result of this cross-sectional configuration of the louver members the air or other gaseous medium expands as it leaves the Ventilating duct and enters the granular goods in the storage chamber.

Resistance to air flow is thus greatly decreased and the power requirements of the Ventilating system are correspondingly reduced. This expansion chamberffeature permits large volumes of air to be circulated throughout the entire mass of the stored goods in a short time so that complete aeration may be obtained by operation of the Ventilating system only during'those periods when atmospheric conditions are optimum.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is the provision of an aerated storage structure as described above.

A further object of the invention is the provision of inflatable and vertically adjustable sealing means for blocking olf a shaft at any desired vertical portion thereof in order to exclude the air under pressure from any desired longitudinal portion of the shaft.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following specilication together with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan sectional view of a granary showing a single storage chamber embodying the invention and portions of adjacent storage chambers.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view'of a portion of Fig.V 1, illustrating details of construction of one of the vertically extending ventilation ducts.

Figure 3 is an enlarged View in sectional elevation taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in transverse section showing some of the reinforced concrete louver members of Fig. 3 together with the stored goods supported by the louver members. y

Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing a modified form of construction for the louver members using sheet metal instead of reinforced concrete.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view looking Y 3. Y toward the right at the louver members of Fig. 5, without the stored goods.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view similar to Figs. l4 and 5, showing a further modified form of construction for the louver members using sheet metal and metal tubes. Figure 48 is a sectional view in elevation of a Vertical ventilation duct showing an iniiatable b'ag in deflated condition, the bag, when inflated, acting to shut oi'the flow of air through the ventilation duct in that portion of the duct which is engaged by the inflated bag.

Figure 9 shows the bag of Figure 8 in its inflated condition. Y

Figure 10 is a plan sectional View taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. 8 and showing, on a reduced scale, the bag of Figs. 8 and 9 arranged for usein a duct of a triangular cross-section. l Y

Figure l1 is a plan view like Fig. 10,' showing two of the inflatable bags arranged 'in `a rectangular ventilation duct.

Referring-to Fig 1,Y there isrshown one corner of a Jgranary, for example, which is designated generally as 10.' A'complete storageY chamber 11 is shown together withfportions of adjacent storage chambers 12,' 13 'and 1 4 which are similar to the storage chamber 11. The 'storage chamber 11 has a floor 15 of octagonal shape.

Four Aoppositely disposed walls of the chamber 11 are solid, the solid Vwalls being designated" 16. The remaininge-four rwalls,each of which is designated generally as 17,'are gas 'permeable 'and serve both for confining the stored material within the chamber 11 and for aeration of the stored goods.;

Each of the gas'permeable walls 17 comprises a series of vertically spaced horizontally extending louver members 18;' Each 'of the louver'members 18 is secured at its yopposite ends to an upright reinforced concrete column 20.- As shown inFg. Yl of the drawing, an upright column 20 is'disposed at each Aof the corners of the octagonal storage chambersll, so'that each'of the louver members 18`extends between and. is .supported by two spaced vertically extending supporting columns 20.

Each of -the louver members 18,-a's shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is formed of reinforced concrete; The reinforced concrete-comprisesreinforcing 'rods 21 surrounded 'by concrete 22. Each louver member 18 includes a vertical leg 'portion V2.3. and a sloping leg portion 24 which slopes downwardly toward the interior ofthe. storage `chamber 11 from the lower end of the vertical leg portion 23. Eachslopng leg-portion 24 'is adapted for direct contact with'the-fstored granulous goods. The vertical leg portions. 23 v'are substantially aligned ina common .vertical plane-with! the' sloping leg-portions 24 extending substantla-llyiparallel'to each `other.l The' spacing between adjacent-onesaofnthe vertical leg portions-23 is less than the spacing between adiacentfree endsof 'the sloping leg portions 24.;

As shown vin Figs. l and -2, there are mutually perpendicular solid vertical walls 25 which, together with the gas permeable wall 17, deline a vertically extending ventilation duct 27 of triangular cross-sectionalV configuration; The bottom of the duct- 27 communicates ywith blower'or'otherapparatus,not shown, for forcing' air or somenother ygaseous ventilationmedium upwardly which cause expansion of the air or other gaseous medi-j um in passingiromthe vertical duct'27'into 'th'est'or'ed goods 28.

fromr'below the iioorlS and through the gas permeable walll?. intothe storage chamberdl.- Similar provision 1s made for the ventilation of the adjacent-storagechambers -'12', y 13, 14 Vand 1S. 1

ReferringagainV to Fig. 4, it will beseen that the'stored .granular material 28 rests in direct contact with'thesloprng legportions.24 of the horizontal louver members 18 andis thus confined 4within the storage chamber 11; The arrangementof they vertical leg portions 23 of the louver members 18 so that the spacing between' adjacent ones of the Vertical leg portions 23 is less than thespacing `between adjacent free .ends of the' sloping Vleg portions 24, provides a series of constricted entrance throats 29 Figure 5 shows a modified form of construction for' the louver members 18. Each louver member 18 is formed of sheet metal bent at 39 to form the vertical leg portion 23 and the sloping leg portion 24. The louver member is braced by longitudinally-spaced webs 31 rigidly interconnecting the vertical leg portion 23 and the sloping leg portion 24. The sloping leg portion 24 is reinforced against lateral bending by a hollow sheet metal reinforcing member 32 of rectangular cross-section rigidly secured to the underside of the sloping leg portion 2.4. In the modilied form shown in Fig. 5, the sloping leg portion 24 slopes downwardly toward the interior of the storage chamber from the upper end of the ver tical leg portion 23.

Figure 7 shows a further modified form of construction for the louver members 18. As in thecase of Figsl 5 and 6,'the louver member is formed vof vsheet metal; There are two spaced parallel hollow structural tubes'33 and 34. The sheet metal is bent around the lower Atube 33 to form the free end 35 of the sloping leg portion 24.. The metal is bent over the upper tubeY 34 at 36 to form the junction between the depending vertical leg portion'l 23 and the sloping leg portion 24.

, Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, there is shown a vertically displaceable :inflatable sealing device `designated generally as 37 vfor blocking off -a longitudinal portion of the duct 27. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the blocked-off portion of the duct is engaged by the sealing device when in'lated, it being assumed that air under pressure is introduced into theduct 27 `at its lower end.

The sealing device comprises an upper plate 58 shaped to conform to the cross-sectional configuration of the duct 27. However, a small space` is provided between the walls 25 and permeable wall member 17. which define the ventillation duct 27 and the-.lateral edgcsiof the upper plate 3S, The upper plate 38 is supported by fa rope 39 which passes through an eye 40 fixed to the plate 38.

At least one vertical guide rod 41 extends down wardly from upper plate 38. A ystop washer 42 is carried by the guide rod 41, and rests against the 'headed lower end of the guide rod 41. A lightframework 44 extends from the upper plate 38 down to a stop collar 45 fixed to the. guide rod 41. A lower plate 46 is vertically slidable along guide rod 41 between the stop washer 42 and stop collar 45. An inflatable air-tight bag 48 has its upperA portioniixed to the underY surface. ot upper plate 38 and. its lower portion ixed to the. upper surface of lower plate 46 thus being conlined between the. plates 38 and 46; Lower plate 46 has. oritices 49 formed. there in whichcorrununicate with fthe interior of. the inflatable bag 48. v

In operation, air moving `upwardly in-duct 27 enters the bag 48 through the orifices 49 in lower plate 46. Since the sealing device 37 partially closes off direct access to the upper portion of the duct 27 there will be a sufficient Y pressure Vdifferential to. commence iniiation of the bag 48. As inflation proceeds, the lsealing action of the device 37 increases, the bag 48 expanding laterally toward the walls of the duct 27. A s the bag 48 expands, the lower plate 46 moves upwardly along the guide rod 41. When the lateral portions of the bag 48 engage'the walls of the duct 27, the sealing action is complete and the air under, pressure yieldingly urges the lateral walls of the bag 48 into engagement with the wallsof theduct 27. The greater the air pressure against which .sealing is required, the greater will be the pressure on the lateral wallsof the bag 48 which presses them into engagement with the walls of the duct 2 7, and hence the more effective will be thel sealing action. Airrmoving .upwardly in the duct Y27 is compelled to enterth'estored goods through that portion ofA the permeable wall 27 which'islocated below the inliated sealing device 37. However, air may reenter the duct 27 from the storage chamber 11, such reentrant air being directed into that portion of the duct 27 which is located above the iniiated sealing device 37.

With the air pressure removed, the sealing device 37 may be freely displaced vertically by means of the rope 39 which passes through the eye 40. When the air pressure is applied, the bag 43 expends from the deflated condition shown in Fig. 8 to the inliated condition shown in Fig. 9 in which inflated condition the sealing action is eiective.

Fig. l0 shows a preferred positioning ofthe guide rods 41 in a Ventilating duct of triangular cross-sectional coniiguration, three guide rods, 41a, 41b and 41e being arranged in proximity to the corners of the triangle.

Fig. l1 shows the arrangement of the guide rods 41 of the sealing device 37 in the case of two adjacent ventilating ducts 50 each of rectangular cross-sectional conguration. Two guide rods 41d and 41e are shown for each sealing member 37, the guide rods being disposed near opposite ends of each rectangle.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made in the specific embodiments of the invention which have been illustratively shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An aerated storage chamber for granulous goods, comprising: means dening a storage space adapted to receive said goods and comprising vertically extending gas permeable wall means; solid wall means disposed exteriorly of said permeable wall means and uniformly spaced therefrom, said solid wall means deiining with said permeable, said solid wall means defining with said permeable wall means a vertically extending ventilation duct therebetween, the lower end of said duct being adapted to receive a gaseous medium under pressure for the aeration of said goods; an inflatable gas tight bag engageable with the walls of said duct and vertically displaceable in said duct when said bag is at least partially dellated; and inlet means communicating directly between the interior of said bag and the portion of said duct immediately below said bag for admitting said gaseous medium under pressure into said interior of said bag for inating said bag and confining said gaseous medium in said duct for flow through the permeable wall means thereof only in those portions of said duct not engaged by said inllated bag.

2. A storage chamber according to claim 1, wherein said bag is vertically elongated for conlining said gaseous medium within a predetermined vertical portion of said storage space by lateral engagement of isaid bag with said permeable wall means.

3. A storage chamber according to claim 1, further comprising vertically extending and vertically displaceable supporting rod means which passes through said bag,

an upper plate member carried by said rod means above said bag for limiting upward expansion of said bag, a lower plate member vertically slidably disposed on said rod means below said bag, said lower plate member being carried by the bottom of said bag and being apertured to provide said inlet means, yand stop means carried by said rod means and disposed to limit upward movement of said lower plate member, said bag, when inflated, being laterally conned by the walls of said duct and vertically conned by said plate members.

4. In combination, means deiining a storage chamber for granulous goods and means defining a vertically extending ventilation duct at one side of said chamber for supplying a gaseous aerating medium to goods stored within said chamber, said duct having a gas permeable wall forming a wall of said chamber for permitting the flow of said medium between said chamber and said duct, said wall comprising two spaced vertically extending supporting columns, and a series of uniformly spaced elongated louver members connected to said columns and extending horizontally therebetween, each louver member, as viewed in transverse section, comprising a vertical leg portion and a sloping leg portion which slopes downwardly from one end of said vertical leg portion toward the interior of said chamber, said sloping leg portion being adapted for direct contact with said stored goods, said vertical leg portions being substantially aligned in a common Vertical plane with said sloping leg portions extending substantially parallel to each other, the spacing between adjacent ones of said Vertical leg portions being less than the spacing between adjacent free ends of said sloping leg portions, whereby a series of constricted entrance throats is provided between said adjacent ones of said vertical leg portions for causing expansion of said medium in passing through said wall and from said duct into said chamber.

5. The combination according to claim 4, in which said sloping leg portion slopes downwardly from `the upper end of said vertical leg portion. A

6. The combination according to claim 4, in which said sloping leg portion slopes downwardly from the lower end of said vertical leg portion.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,929,084 Strub Oct. 3, 1933 2,007,683 Kreutzer July 9, 1935 2,560,141 Tipps July 10, 1951 2,634,672 Maho ---n Apr. 14, 1953 2,634,673 Maho Apr. 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 538,181 Germany Nov. 11, 1931 767,583 France May 1, 1934 626,701 Germany Mar. 2, 1936 77,841 Denmark July 19, 1954 

